Late Sir Hubert

Murray

£248 In a Memorial Fund

RECENTLY, we received from abroad an inquiry concerning a fund, col lected before the war, wherewith to commemorate the worth of the late Sir Hubert Murray, Administrator of Papua.

We referred the matter to Mr. E. A.

James, of Port Moresby, who replied in February as follows: Sometime in 1941, at the instance of certain residents of Papua, a fund was started to raise money suitably to com memorate the work- of the late Sir Hubert Murray, in Papua. Mr. Tom Nevitt and I were nominated trustees, and, for the sake of convenience only, “The Papuan Courier” office acted as collectors.

No form of memorial was decided upon, it being suggested subscribers later should express their opinions on this when an idea of the amount available could be formed.

Came the war and the evacuation of civilians in February, 1942. The fund was halted. All records of the fund were lost, and moneys then collected were on fixed deposit at the bank. In Sydney, Mr. Nevitt and I ascertained the position of the fund, purchased War Savings Cer tificates and lodged them with the Bank of N, S. Wales, Sydney, in k our joint names.

Since their return to Papua the Trus tees have been somewhat at a loss to know how best to carry out the wishes of the subscribers; and for some time

now have been in communication with the Administration, with the view to ob taining their advice and co-operation in the matter. It is hoped some decision may be arrived at in the near future.

Up to 31st January, 1942, the amount collected for the fund was £196/0/6, to which was added Interest, etc., £2/7/6, totalling £l9B/8/-, which sum purchased War Savings Certificates having a face value of £248. The latest of these mature during the present year, whilst those already matured continue to earn interest.